The Online
Resource for Historians, Educators, Students and Visitors since 1997This is a
graphics-intensive publication, to fully experience the site we
recommend you have JavaScript enabled.

" 'Here a scene of indescribable sublimity burst upon us. Before us lay the waters of Lake Champlain, a sheet of unruffled glass, stretching some ninety miles to the south, widening and straitening as rocks and cliffs projected in the most fantastic shapes into the channel. On each side is a thick and uninhabited wilderness, now rising up into mountains, now falling into glens, while a noble background is presented toward the east by the Green Mountains, whose summits appear even to pierce the clouds. On the west mountains still more gigantic in loftiness, pride and dignity. I cannot by any powers of language do justice to such a scene.' "

R.G. Gleig, a member of Gen. Fraser's staff,
Burgoyne Campaign
June 1777

Beautiful Lake
Champlain, stretching south from Quebec and dividing New York and
Vermont, has justifiably been called the most historic body of water
in North America.

Lake
Champlain has long been part of an important waterway passage
between the St. Lawrence and Hudson Rivers. Flowing south to north,
the lake stretches some 120 miles from its beginning at
Whitehall, New York to the Richelieu River in Quebec.

The first European to
discover the lake was
Samuel de Champlain in 1609. Champlain claimed the waterway and
the virgin forested lands surrounding it for his sovereign, setting
in motion a long conflict between France and Great Britain.

Lake Champlain,
together with Lake George, played
a crucial role in the early history of the United States and Canada.
Due largely to its strategic importance as the only navigable
passage between the Adirondack and Green Mountains, many important
forts were built and several critical battles were fought upon its
shores. Among these are some of the most storied names in colonial
history- Ticonderoga,
Crown Point, and
Valcour Island to name
but a few. The lake also figured prominently during the War of 1812,
culminating in the Battle of
Plattsburgh (also known as the Battle of Lake Champlain).

Once
these early conflicts ended the lake lost its strategic importance
to military planners. During the mid-nineteenth century the lake
became a vital transportation corridor for all sorts of cargo,
especially after canals were constructed on both ends of the lake.
Sailing vessels gave way to steamboats, which eventually were
replaced by the railroads. As the lake became less important for
commercial carriage, it became a recreational haven.

Today, Lake
Champlain, together with Lake George to the south, is an important
recreational playground for millions. The lake faces challenges
brought upon by it by increased recreational use and population
growth but
it retains its appeal and natural beauty.

Lake
Champlain Facts:

Elevation: 95.5 feet above sea levelLength: 120 milesWidth: 12 miles at widest pointDrains: South to north into the Richelieu River at
Rouses Point, New YorkNumber of islands: Over 70Maximum depth: 400 feet, average depth is 64 feet.Shoreline: 587 miles- New York, Vermont and Quebec

Images of Lake Champlain
Photos by Jim Millard, aerial photos courtesy of Doug Harwood(Click on the thumbnails to see a full-size image)

The historical information on this
web site is provided as a public service by James P. Millard. I
have attempted to be as accurate as
possible in my presentation of this historical material. However,
I make no claims, guarantees or promises about the accuracy,
currency, or completeness of the information provided. In no event
shall the publisher; James P. Millard, be
liable for any errors or omissions with respect to any information
on this site. Material submitted by guest contributors and published
on the site is the property of the contributor and may be removed at
any time at my discretion or upon request of the contributor. This website occasionally provides links to sites of
other organizations maintained by third parties. These links do not
constitute an endorsement of the content, viewpoint, accuracy,
opinions, policies, products, services, or accessibility of that
website. Links to third-party websites are provided as a public
service and convenience to users of our site; James P. Millard/America’s Historic
Lakes does not control, endorse or recommend the content on sites we
may link to. Once connected to another website, you are subject to
the terms and conditions of that website.